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Fly-fishing equipment consists of a variety of rods, reels, lines and other gear made specifically for fly-fishing applications.
Rods
Originally, fly rods were made of bamboo strips glued together in the shape of a hexagon. Since the only area of the world that produced the grade of bamboo necessary for rod building was China’s Guangdong Province, manufacturers looked for a viable alternative. Fiberglass soon replaced bamboo, although most of today’s fly rods are made from various grades of graphite, the highest grades being the most expensive.
Fly rods are generally longer and more limber than conventional casting or spinning rods. They range from 7 to 10 feet in length, with appropriate length determined by the species of fish being sought and the environment they inhabit. An average length of 8.5 to 9 feet covers most fishing situations, though longer, two-handed (spey) rods of up to 15 feet are used for specialty fishing, primarily big-game species.
The strength (action), power and flexing qualities of the rod are referred to as its “weight.” This rod weight corresponds directly to the weight of fly line matched with the rod, meaning that a 4- to 5-weight rod should be used when fishing a 4- or 5-weight line. Weights, for both rods and line, commonly range from 1 to 14, with 4 to 8 being the most common. In general, weights from 1 to 4 are used for small fish, 5 to 8 for medium-sized fish, and 9 and above for large fish. Of course, individual fish species and their respective habitats may dictate the use of lighter or heavier weighted rods in a given situation.
Reels
Fly reels serve much different purposes than conventional reels. Because fly casting is a function of the rod and line, in many cases reels are used for little else than storing fly line. Fighting fish is also mostly done without the help of the reel, with the non-casting hand gripping and pulling in line. However, in some instances, particularly when battling large fish, fly anglers prefer to pull in a hooked fish by using the reel.
Fly reels are mounted to the rod below the handle, giving the rod-and-reel combo a balanced, natural feel in the angler’s hand, which helps reduce arm fatigue from the repetitive casting common to fly-fishing. Their spools are deep and narrow and their internal framework features few gears and other moving parts.
Single-Action – These are the most common type of fly reel, where the reel’s handle is attached directly to the spool. Each turn of the handle causes one revolution of the spool. When matched to the appropriate line weight for the species sought, the single-action reel is a simple and reliable choice.
Dual-Action – Also called “multiplying-action,” dual-action reels differ from single-actions in that their internal gearing causes one revolution of the handle to turn the spool more than one time. This is characteristic of how other kinds of reels operate, such as spinning, spin-casting and bait-casting. The dual-action reel is used in situations where rapid recovery of long lengths of line is needed to keep up with a fast-moving fish.
Automatic – On an automatic reel, line is wound automatically by depressing a trigger. These reels are not very common as they are heavy and often cannot store an adequate amount of line. However, they are convenient when spooling several yards of slack line prior to changing or retying a fly or moving to another spot.
Most fly reels have an adjustable drag system that allows the angler to put added pressure on fish when fighting from the reel, as well as create greater friction when “stripping” off line prior to the cast. When an external drag adjustment knob is turned, it puts tension on a friction washer, applying tension to the spool to slow it down. The better drags are those that operate smoothly over a wide range of adjustments, with good braking systems. Most compression drag systems utilize one or more washers composed primarily of cork or carbon fiber.
Miscellaneous Equipment
In addition to rods, reels, lines and leaders, fly anglers utilize a variety of accessories when on the water:
Waders
Waders allow fly anglers to access more of a given body of water than can be reached from the shoreline, and can allow them to reach areas inaccessible to boats. Waders come in two general styles: hip-boots and chest-waders. Hip-boots are suitable for fishing shallow stretches of water while chest-waders are required in deeper water. Many fly anglers also employ float tubes with chest-waders, which enable them to float at depths greater than chest-high. Fins are attached to an angler’s feet for mobility.
Fishing Vests
Because the fly angler often needs everything – fly boxes, spare spools, extra reels, tools and other accessories – close at hand while in or on the water, fishing vests work much like tackle boxes to conventional anglers. Fly-fishing vests often have numerous compartments of various sizes designed to hold the multitude of boxes, materials, tools and other gadgets that anglers use.
Polarized Sunglasses
In many fly-fishing waters, especially clear streams and rivers, the ability to see well beneath the surface is a huge advantage to the angler. Even in extremely clear and shallow water, it can be difficult to see the complete picture without the aid of polarized sunglasses. These reduce glare reflected off the water's surface and enable anglers to see underwater features in closer detail. Seeing objects like hatching aquatic insects and moss beds -- even the fish being pursued -- can contribute greatly to the angler's success. And seeing obstacles like deep pools, logs and slippery rocks provides an added safety measure. Many anglers carry two pair or interchangeable lenses; grey lenses for sunny days, amber colored for overcast days.
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